The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

The courtly Inspector Lynley and rougher-edged Sgt. Havers meet
again for another adventure in genteel mayhem.

Is anyone in England happy? Not to gauge by this latest yarn of
George’s (Just One Evil Act, 2013, etc.), which ranges from the white
cliffs of Dorset to the whiter districts of London. Young William Goldacre, on
the face of it, is aptly named: he has a girlfriend who's affectionate, if “a
pierced and tattooed creature” with an unusual-enough look to scare the country
gentry, and he’s a wizard in the garden, “expert, visionary, artist, and
laborer.” So why did Will sneak off and throw himself into the churning sea as
if an extra in Quadrophenia? That’s a question for psychologists to
ponder. If, that is, they have a minute to spare, for the self-help author
caught up in events turns up dead, too, and those on whom suspicion falls have
problems of their own: the author’s editor goes around with a PAD—a
“psychological assistance dog,” that is—while Will’s mum, who’s bound up in all this mess, may or may
not be a pathological liar with a murderous streak. Meanwhile, Inspector
Lynley, who knows his way around a martini glass and the Tate, finds himself in
conversations about just why Sgt. Havers never bothers to fix her hair. Caught
up in the slough of despond, the assorted cast should barely have energy to
commit crime and cover it up, much less solve the mischief. Yet they manage to
pull themselves together and do that heavy lifting. Heaviness, too, figures
into the tale, as does depression, madness, jealousy, and the ordinary
misunderstandings—a trademark George scenario, that is, including apparent
mishaps that have more sinister causes.

In her 20th mystery, George delivers just what she always has:
storylines that take a long time to resolve and narratives that are a shade too
long but that in the end are always satisfying.

Be the first to discover new talent!
Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our Pro Connect email alert.
Sign up here to receive your FREE alerts.